Improvement in oyster-openers



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

JOHN SEIPEL AND WM. RUPP, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN OYSTER-OPENERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.` 19,050, dated January 5, 1858.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN SEIPEL and WILLIAM RUP?, both of the city and county of I/Vashington, and District of Columbia, have invented a new and Improved Machine for Opening Oysters; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of our invention consists in a hollow tube to carry off the ends of the shell and to support theknife and levers workin g the same.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use our invention, we will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A hollow cylinder, A, Figure 1, is fitted at the bottom to a circular plate having a hole in the center to correspond to the diameter of the cylinder. This circular plate B, Fig. 1, is supported by legs C, Fig. l. Under the cylinder is placed a tub, D, Fig. 1, or other receptacle for the matter which passes down the cylinder.

The upper part ofthe cylinder supports a frame, 1 2 3 4, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, for the knife 5, Figs. 4 and 1, and a bedplate, 6, Figs. 1 and 2, for the oyster, and also grooves for the knife to work in, as well as a fulcrum for the lever 7, Figs. l and 3, to which the knife is attached. The bed-plate 6, Figs. 1 and 2, is movable so as to be readily replaced when it becomes worn.

In the front plate of the frame 1 2 3 4, Figs. 1 and 3, which supports the knife, is a slot, 8 8, Figs. 1 and 3, and is directly over the bedplate 6, Fig. 1, and above this slot is a projecting guide, 9, Fig. 2.

Attached to the circular plate at the bottom of the cylinder is a vertical arm, e, Fig. 1, with a joint at the upper end to receive and support a lever, f, Fig. 1, with a weight, g,Fig. 1, at one end, and the other end, h, Figs. 1 and 5, a flat surface for the foot to act upon.

Rising from the circular plate B, Fig. 1, is a guide, t', Fig. 1, to regulate the vertical movement of the lever f, Fig. 1.

The lever 7, Figs. 1 and 3, supporting the knife, is connected with the lower or motive lever, f, Fig. 1, by means of a shaft, k, Fig. 1.

The machine is operated upon as follows: The oyster to be opened is placed by hand in the slot or cavity 8, Figs. 1 and 3. The foot of the operator presses upon the end h of the lever j'. This, by means of the shaft 7c and the upper lever, 7, Figs. 1 and 3, forces the knife 5, Figs. 1 and 4, downward upon the oystershell and cuts off the end. The end drops through the hollow cylinder A, Fig. 1, into the tub D, Fig. 1.

The remainder of the operation is performed with a knife in the usual way. The knife may be acted upon by aixing two circular arms to the upper end of a shorter shaft and fastening the upper end of the knife to the extremities of those arms, or in any similar manner.

The weight g, Figs. 1 and 5, at the end of the lever forces the knife upward when the pressure of the foot is removed.

A spring may be used in the place of the weight g to accomplish the same purpose.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The hollow shaft, in combination with the double levers for operating the adjustable knife, and these with the movable bed plate or rest, the whole being relatively arranged and constructed as herein set forth.

JOHN SEIPEL. WM. RUPP. In presence of- R. T. BIRCHETT, GEO. C. THOMAS. 

